Empire's Son: An Epic Science Fiction Novel Series

"He's not here," Markus said impatiently as they checked the bonding chambers. It wasn't particularly remarkable. He was more impressed by the transporter that someone had put into a tiny dugout alcove in a narrow passage just off what Tetki called the bonding chambers. It had only been large enough to transport one person at a time, so Tetki had allowed Markus to go first after he activated it. Apparently, someone had turned it off.

Once so deep underground, they had lost the ability to track Adar. While Tetki's unity ring picked up the tracker signal of the identity chip while above ground, the ores in the walls all around them were keeping the ring from picking the signal back up. So they had checked the chambers first, but they were empty of life. However, there was evidence that someone had been tied to a chair in the room that Tetki said the bonding agent was stored before bonding.

They then found and disarmed a cleverly hidden trap on the ancient stairs leading back up to the administration building. After that, the only place left to check was deeper into the cavern system. This was where Tetki's knowledge was reduced, stating that the only information he received about the narrow corridor leading off the chambers was that it led into a deeper network of caves.

Markus was not happy to hear about that. It meant they'd have to go search for Adar, and there was no telling what awaited them down in the depths of Sora X. So they prepared as best as they could by making sure their blaster pistols were at the ready, with Markus carrying a luminary he'd found in a small box in storage, while Tetki could supply his own light with his elemental Dome-ni. Tetki then sent a message to Jamiss telling him what they were about to do and requesting backup, which they hoped would send despite the error code that the ring's signal was weak because of environmental interference. Then they headed back past the transporter and deeper down the snaking narrow corridor.

It wasn't long before they came out into an underground grotto and found the body. It looked eerie in the orange glow emanating from a small orb of fire Tetki had manifested with his Dome-ni. It hovered in the air a few inches from the Protector's head, casting a sharp halo of light around Tetki and onto the scene before them.

The corpse was lying sprawled close to the wall and only a few quick steps from the exit opening of the corridor they'd come down. What was surprising was that the man had been wearing an MX4 suit, but had obviously become overwhelmed by someone or something else. There was no identifying the man. His head was a smear on the wall and floor of the cavern. But Markus knew it wasn't Adar or Zorren. The body frame was far too bulky to be either of them.

"Who is this?" Tetki said as he squatted down to get a better look at the body in the suit, the orb of light following him staying close as if attached by an invisible leash.

"It's not who were are looking for, so it doesn't matter right now," Markus said as he moved further into the large open space.

It was clear there had been a firefight down here. There were black scorch marks all over the walls, ceiling and floors, and piles of misplaced rocks and even a few boulders that had broken loose from the wall and ceiling. Something caught Markus's eye, and he stopped dead in the center of the cave.

"Tetki!" He called the man over.

The Protector's long legs crossed the distance quickly. Markus pointed down to what looked a lot like bloodstains on the floor. His eyes roamed the floor to see more of the dark crimson, leading away and to the back of the cavern.

"Someone was hurt, and by the looks of it, it's pretty bad," Tetki observed.

But Markus didn't find his words helpful in the least, because the evidence was so obvious. Markus hoped the blood belonged to Zorren, but something told him it didn't. That thought spurred him into movement.

He didn't hesitate as he stepped into the dark opening on the other side of the cavern. This corridor wasn't lit up with running lights like the other one, so Markus was more cautious as he stepped into the narrow space. Even with Tetki's light behind him, the darkness was difficult to penetrate, so Markus activated his luminary in one hand and kept his pistol ready in the other.

They traveled a lot longer in this passageway before it finally led into another open space, but this one was far smaller, and someone was already occupying it because as he came into the new cavern, something swung at his head.

Markus ducked out of the way just in time, but his foot slipped on the slick rock underneath, and he didn't miss the knee in the gut. Air was forced from his lungs as his gun clattered to the cavern floor somewhere in the dark and his luminary went rolling in the other direction, but Markus quickly recuperated as he twisted, slamming an elbow into the body before him.

He followed up with a swift uppercut, feeling his fist connect solidly with his attacker's jaw. The figure stumbled backward, and Markus pressed his advantage, lunging forward to grapple with his opponent. They crashed against the cavern wall, sending loose pebbles skittering across the floor.

As they struggled in the dim light, Markus glimpsed his attacker's face. The hard glint in Zorren's eyes glared back at him, while a glint from something else came from his peripheral vision. Markus sensed the blade coming for him and twisted away. He used his head as a battering ram that went right into the other man's face. Markus heard bone crack as the grip on him loosened, allowing him to roll away.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

He quickly came back to his feet in a guarded position in case the ex-Ascendant tried to use the weapon on him again. He had kept the luminary clutched in his hand, so he thrust it before him as a weapon to hopefully blind the other man before he could recuperate.

A furious Zorren had come to his feet as well. Blood now gushed from his nose and down the front of him as the Prince grasped his carvot tightly in his grip. Markus's eyes roved over the man and quickly noted the blaster wounds on his shoulder and thigh, and there was no mistaking the white pallor of the other man's face. By the looks of him, Zorren was weakening fast from his injuries, which was a good sign.

Markus braced himself to strike out again at the other man when a blaster bolt zipped past his head and struck the rock outcropping close to Zorren's right shoulder, the one that didn't have a round, dark scorched hole.

"Drop the knife, or the next shot will go into your good shoulder." Tetki's firm voice demanded from behind Markus.

A deep silence dropped over the three men. Markus saw the hesitation in the Prince's eyes. In fact, Markus could almost see Zorren calculating whether he could take on the two of them, but in the end, he must have decided it was more than he could handle, because Zorren let the knife clatter to the cavern floor.

The ex-Ascendant opened his mouth to say something, but Markus wasn't in the mood for what he knew would just be denials and attempts to bark commands as if the Imperial Prince was above everything he'd done. Markus quickly stepped forward, reared back with his right fist, and slammed it into the Prince's face as hard as he could. The punch sent Zorren reeling backwards to sprawl on the ground. Markus walked forward and kicked at the downed Prince, but he didn't react.

"Why did you do that? He could have told us where the Heir was?" Tetki growled at Markus.

He almost didn't hear the Protector with how loud his heart was thundering in his ears. "No need. We just need to follow the blood." Markus motioned to more of a blood trail that led further into the darkness.

"Secure him. I'm going after Adar," Markus said as he scooped up his gun and marched across the cave to yet another narrow passageway in the rock at the far left of the cave.

Tetki said something, but Markus had already tuned everything else out. He needed to find his friend, and quickly. The blood splatter was getting much heavier, and Markus was sure it was Adar's. Zorren had no open wounds on him except for the bloody nose Markus had given him. He had to hurry. His friend had already lost so much blood.

Markus found Adar in the next chamber. This one was much bigger than the grotto he'd found the dead body in. He could feel the vastness of it, even though his eyes could not see an end to the massive room. This one had bioluminescent wildlife that the first one had, and it seemed to dominate much of the rock faces of the cavern. Even the vaulted ceiling above him had large patches of glowing green moss. So he had little need of his luminary rod. But he still gripped it tightly as he looked at the pale figure before him.

Adar was sitting against the wall of the cavern, only a few steps away from the corridor Markus had come down. His legs were splayed open before him with his chin lowered against his chest. His right arm lay on his lap with the palm halfway open, and the other hand was covering a knife jutting out of his side. A pool of blood had formed beside him.

Markus felt the panic race through him as he squatted down next to his friend. "Adar! Yavit, don't die on me."

But his friend didn't respond, which caused pure dread to wash through Markus. He reached out to his friend's neck to feel for a pulse. He sighed with relief. It was there, but it was very weak. Markus looked down to get a better look at the knife and the wound. The feeling of dread came back as he saw moving Adar would only kill him faster.

Markus sank down on his heels, feeling despondent and helpless. He knew he had to get Adar to a Remaker before he died from blood loss, but he couldn't even move his injured friend without the knife ripping the wound wider. Panic surged through Markus. Was this the end? After years of waiting for Adar's return, would their friendship truly end so soon after being reunited?

Rage coursed through Markus in a wave so strong that it caused him to tremble. No, this wasn't going to be it. He wouldn't let this happen. And yet, in his heart, he could feel it––the end. He felt the darkness encroaching on him. The rage boiled up and exploded inside him, and Markus let out a scream of frustration.

The sound echoed through the large room. It seemed to go on forever along the grand vaults of the high ceiling and travel the expanse of the long stretch of rocky walls. And then, the world around him rumbled and quaked.

Markus lost his balance as the earth below him moved and trembled. Pebbles scattered across the floor, and rocks and debris fell from the ceiling as the quaking increased. And then a deafening roar met his ears. The sound was so loud he could feel it in his bones. He whipped his head around to look back into the cavern to find himself face to face with the biggest creature he'd ever seen.

Markus froze, his heart pounding in his chest as he stared into the glowing eyes of the massive beast. It was unlike anything he had ever encountered before––a behemoth of scales and claws that seemed to fill the entire cavern. Its long, serpentine neck stretched up towards the ceiling, easily twice Markus's height. Rows of razor-sharp teeth gleamed in the bioluminescent light as the creature opened its maw and let out another ear-splitting roar.

Instinctively, Markus threw himself over Adar's prone form, shielding his friend's body with his own. His mind raced, trying to process what he was seeing as he watched the beast take a thunderous step forward, its claws scraping against the cavern floor. Every part of him screamed for Markus to run, but he refused to leave his friend behind.

Markus' body tensed as he braced for an attack, but to his shock, the creature stopped. Its massive head swung down, bringing one glowing eye level with Markus. He held his breath, not daring to move as the pupil dilated, focusing intently on him.

For a long moment, they stared at each other. Markus felt a strange pressure building in his head, like someone was trying to push their way into his mind. Then, abruptly, a voice resonated in his thoughts––ancient, powerful, and unmistakably alien.

You seek to save your friend; the voice stated. It wasn't a question.

Markus swallowed hard, wondering if he'd gone mad. Was he really communicating telepathically with this monster? "Y-yes," he said. He'd spoken it out loud. His voice sounded tiny before this beast.

Then we must hurry. There isn't much time. The voice said in Markus's mind.